• Richtis gorge : The amazing gorge of Richtis is located in Lasithi Prefecture, on the north side, between Agios Nikolaos and Sitia. It starts just outside the village Exo Mouliana and ends at the Richtis beach, east of the village of Kalabro. The total length of the route is approximately 3 kilometres and the elevation difference between the starting point and the beach is about 350 metres. The gorge, even in summer, has enough water, which is used by locals. Platan, oleander and sage are numerous, and the smells of fresh herbs change constantly.
• Kritsa gorge : Kritsa Gorge starts near the picturesque village of Kritsa, 9.5 kilometres southwest of Agios Nikolaos and ends at the village Tapes. It’s 4 kilometres long, reaching a width of only 1.5 metres in some places. The entrance of the canyon near Kritsa is impressive, as the mountain is torn in two, shaping the narrow passage of Havgas.
• Mylonas gorge : The Gorge of Mylonas is located 18 kilometres east of Ierapetra. It starts near the village of Agios Ioannis, at an altitude of 500 metres, and ends at the beach of Kakia Skala.
• Cha gorge : One dominant feature of the area of Ierapetra, in front of the village of Vassiliki, is the Gorge Cha. It is considered one of the wildest gorges in Crete, a rare morphological phenomenon of nature, probably caused by tectonic earthquake. It remains a virgin environment, untouched by man, who still finds its formation prohibitive for exploration or development. Canyoners consider it the King of the gorges of Crete. Ha has about 33 rappels, the largest is 35 metres high, therefore any attempt to cross it without technical equipment is impossible. In the last third of the gorge, a waterfall of 215 metres height is poured, which increases the amount of water in the gorge. The waterfall is the highest in Greece and is located at the end of Mastoras sub-gorge. The entrance of the gorge is very narrow, about 3 metres and opens on the top. Its width in many parts is only 30 centimetres m and in others no more than 3 metres. Its length is about 1 kilometre. The intense parallel colours on the rocks are impressive, too. As you reach the inside you can see many such small ponds and waterfalls, especially in the wintertime, which is the best time to visit the gorge.
• Zakros gorge : The beautiful Gorge of Kato Zakros (or the gorge of the Dead) starts in a short distance from Ano Zakros, nearly 100 kilometres southeast of Agios Nikoilaos, and ends at Kato Zakros. The beauty of the landscape, the historical importance of the gorge and its accessibility, attract many visitors every year. The trail in the gorge is part of the E4 European trail. It is an exceptionally beautiful gorge, with high walls with big caves on them. In those caves, tombs of the Minoan era, have been found, which contained findings of great archaeological value. Because of these tombs, the gorge is also called “Gorge of the Dead” and the caves “Caves of the Dead”.
• Orino gorge : Nearby the lush green and full of water springs Orino village we meet one of the most steep rivers of Crete. Its springs are located high on the plateau Abelia on the slopes of Thripti and Papouri mounts. They shortly form a river which crosses the village square and enters the rugged canyon of Orino. The river shapes incredible waterfalls with ponds and especially its last part is amazingly beautiful. The last three waterfalls at Peristerionas position are some of the most beautiful in Crete. Impressive also is the amount of water, very rare at dry East Crete. Even during the summer months there is water flow in the gorge. The river continues to flow down and enters the canyon of Red Butterflies finishing at Koutsouras beach.
• Pervolakia gorge : The wild and imposing gorge of Kapsas is located 8-9 kilometres east of Makrigialos and 33 kilkometres east of Ierapetra. The gorge is also called Pervolakia, because its northern entrance is near the secluded and picturesque village of Pervolakia. The length of the gorge is about 4 kilometres and trekking in the canyon is not too hard. The exit of the gorge is next to the Monastery of Kapsa, in the Libyan Sea. You can swim in the beautiful quiet pebbly beach, just in front of the gorge exit.
• Pefki gorge : The Gorge of Pefki (Pefki means Pines) is one of the most beautiful small gorges of Crete, with amazing rock formations shaped by the natural forces and with lush vegetation. The length of the gorge is 4.5 kilometres and the elevation difference of the entering point and the exit reaches 300 metres.
• Mesonas gorge : Mesonas gorge is located on the northern slopes of the mountains of Thripti, near villages Kavoussi and Avgos. It is a short imposing gorge (4 kilometres long), that needs technical equipment for crossing it along its bed. The canyon connects the Plateau of Thripti to the plain of Kavoussi. The views to the canyon, the surrounding mountains and the bay of Mirabello are indescribable.
• Sarakina gorge : 16 kilometres west of the Ierapetra is the traditional village of Mythi. In a short distance from the village, the small Sarakina Gorge starts, which ends near the Mirtos. The length of the canyon reaches 1.5 kilometres and its width ranges from 3 to 10 metres, with only a few points exceeding that. The walls reach a height of 150 metres, making this narrow gorge very impressive. In the gorge, Kryopotamos river is flowing all over the year. The locals call the gorge Sarantapihos. According to legend Sarantapihos, a giant (son of Zeus) stopped to drink water from a river. His long beard slashed the mountain in two parts and created the canyon.
• Selinaris gorge : The Gorge Selinari is located about 45 kilometres east of Heraklion and 21 kilometres west of Agios Nikolaos, on the eastern slopes of Selena Mount. It is well known to all Cretans, because the National Road from Heraklion to Agios Nikolaos runs along the gorge. Moreover, the canyon has historically been the natural passage from the region of Lassithi to Heraklion fertile north coasts. The walls of the gorge and the surrounding mountains shelter many birds of prey. Selinari used to be one of the shelters for the rare wildgoat (kri kri), but it unfortuntally has disappeared.
• Tsigounis gorge : The exit of the gorge Tsigounis is located 1 kilometre west of the village Sfaka, Sitia district, on a turn of the main road connecting central Crete to Sitia. The river flowing through the gorge gets its water from the plateau Monokara and is “stingy” (tsigounis means stingy) as it has small quantities of water only in winter.
• Skotini gorge : Gorge Skotini crosses one of the most remote and wild places of Crete. While walking along the gorge, you will cross one beautiful and wild landscape with bare rocks, low vegetation and numerous spices and herbs. In the gorge you will see 2-3 wells with water, while inside the tall walls of the gorge you will find many caves. Indeed, in one of them locals say that an eerie woman called Datserolenia lived. The cave has a stone wall that still protects its entrance. A few yards away, you’ll meet the small beach of Skotini.
• Koudoumis gorge : The canyon of Koudoumis is located about 27 kilometres west of Sitia, near the village Tourloti. The canyon is accessible on foot, but it has six small steep rappels that require little attention. The canyon is also called Tourloti Gorge as its exit is located close to Tourloti and its entrance is located at the small plateau of Monokaras, a few kilometres further south. The impressive rock formations and the blooming nature of spring make trekking in Koudoumis gorge very interesting.
• Xerokampos or Lamnoni gorge : The gorge of Xerokambos – Ziros, officially called “Lamnoni gorge”, is the driest canyon of eastern Crete. Walking in the gorge takes approximately 2 hours and the descent is quite easy and smooth. The canyon has typical wild cretan beauty, with bare, tall walls and undergrowth.
• Agii Pantes gorge : Agii Pantes Gorge is located next to Skopi of Sitia province, near Faneromeni Monastery, and is one of the easiest places to walk in Crete. The very well signed trail runs along the riverbed of the gorge, below the shade of hundreds platan trees. There are two fresh water springs in the canyon, one is called Koutsounari and the other one, located inside a cave, is called Hosto Nero. The exit of the gorge is the beach of Agii Pantes (by Platani beach). The area floods in winter turns to an important wetland. Near its exit, you will admire the white limestock formations, reminding of huge pleurotus mushrooms.
• Kouroukoulos gorge : The unknown gorge of Kouroukoulos starts from the deserted village Agalianos at the province of Merambelo, Lasithi prefecture. By following the old trail starting from the village and we reach the watercourse, which is accessible for hiking throughout its length. The vegetation consists mainly of oaks at the beginning and as we approach the sea, it turns to brushwood and oregano. West of Kouroukoulos, there is the Gorge Patsopoulos. They are separates by a narrow strip of wild rocky land, called Spathi. From the top of Spathi, you will have view to both canyons. A few meters before the sea, the two canyons merge to one.
• Patsopoulos gorge : West of Kouroukoulos, there is the Gorge Patsopoulos. A very beautiful spot in the gorge is the famous Kokkinos Detis (Red cliff) which is full of rare plants living in rock holes, most of which are endemic. Just before the exit to the sea there is a small chapel dedicated to the Agios Loukas, a local hermit who died in the canyon and was shot with an arrow. Shortly after the chapel, you will find the exit of the gorge at the beach of Kouroukoulos with very large pebbles and a magical seabed. On the eastern side of the beach, there is a marine cave below the cliff that leads to the very nice pebbly beach of Kakia Naspa (Evil Landslide), which is very good for swimming.
• Agia Irini gorge : The gorge of Agia Irini by Ziros is actually a set of two parallel canyons that merge shortly before the sea, at the point where the dirt road passes to the beach of Agia Irini. Both canyons are very wild, rocky, with steep slopes and high walls. Especially the westernmost of the two branches is quite eerie and dangerous for those who have no experience of hiking in canyons (still it is not technical).
• Lapathos gorge : The gorge of the Holy Apostles in Lapathos is located in the south of Mount Dicti, 28 kilometres west of Ierapetra, 72 kilometres south of Heraklion, in the area of Kato Simi. This is a very rough canyon, which is a perfect challenge for very experienced canyoners. Its length is about 4 kilometres and the elevation difference between the startind and the ending point is about 900 metres. The canyon starts from the small plateau of Lapathos, near the church of Holy Apostles, and ends on the road connecting the village of Pefkos to Ierapetra. The gorge has 28 steep descents which require great repelling skills. The highest is 80 metres, one of the largest in Crete. Also the vertical walls of Lapathos are nesting shelters for many vultures, hawks, crows and other birds, and near the exit of the gorge the vegetation.

There are quite a few small rivers that can be found within the Prefecture of Lasithi, such as Kryopotamos river.